FREE and CHEAP Things to do in Hanoi (CAN’T MISS)

Free and cheap things to do in Hanoi are suitable for those who hope to use their budget economically. Hanoi, the capital with one hundred years of culture and civilization is a wonderful heaven for backpackers and budget-conscious travelers. The reason is its affordability and availability regarding to currency, cuisine, travel and sightseeing opportunities.

If you want to immerse yourself in customs and traditions as well as the culture of Hanoi without blowing your budget, here’s a whole bunch of mostly free things to do in Hanoi. The list is based on my personal experience and knowledge as well as so many experienced locals.

The free and cheap things to do in Hanoi below will be separated into 2 parts:

No more with the introduction, let's find out what are the Free and Cheap things to do in Hanoi right now!

FREE and CHEAP ACTIVITIES in Hanoi

1. Visit Hanoi’s Morning And Night Markets

Hanoians go to outdoor markets more than go to supermakets or malls to buy their stuff. Visiting markets in Hanoi is a great way to experience the local culture. Especially, in some large and popular markets, you can find hundreds of stalls selling fresh produce, quality textiles, and household supplies.

Dong Xuan Market is the largest market in Hanoi but I prefer the Hanoi Weekend Night Market - an outdoor market. However, this market only opens at the weekend nights. If you're lucky to stay in Hanoi in the weekend, check out this market. What I like about this market is that it offers exotic Vietnamese street food.

Location: Hang Duong, Hang Ngang, and Hang Dao Street

Opening hours: every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night from 8 p.m to midnight

2. Join A Free Walking Tour with Local Guides

Hanoi Free Tours are a great way of discover Hanoi city in the eyes of a local. Hanoi Free Tours are organized by AZ Local Trip to help travelers know more about our country, and Local University students have chances of improving theirsevles. The tours can be customized to meet your interests, include the Old and French Quarter of Hanoi, Old Quarter, Museum of Ethnology, Bat Trang Handicraft Village, Temple of Literature, and West Lake. Although its main goal is to help these students to improve on their language and social skills, feel free to tip your guide after the end of your walking tour.

Local guide and tourists taking photos in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum[/caption]

3. Stroll around West Lake

Making up your list of free and cheap things to do in Hanoi,don't miss out the West Lake area. If you are jogging lovers or you want to wander along West Lake, West Lake is definitely your perfect pick. The lake boasts significant landscapes around its perimeters such as Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple.

Walking around the lake is an amazing way to spend the day and one of the free things to do in Hanoi. The 10 mile loop is filled with temples, locals and some really cool cafés and bars.

A hub of local activities forms the hustle and bustle of Tay Ho Lake including going paddle- boating, doing exercises or riding bicycles.

Location: West Lake, Hanoi

Local tips:

Visitor can wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes or sandals to walk and take part in outdoor activities.

Bring a bottle of water or snacks for an interesting trip.

4. Cross the Red River on Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien is a favorite photography spot

Source: @ocsentravelholic

The Bridge is a destination to experience a quiet escape from central Hanoi’s hectic traffic and congested walking lanes.

Despite having endured two grim wars of Vietnamese with the French and American, the bridge’s original foundations remain relatively intact, offering a popular spot for photography.

The bridge is a perfect place to enjoy the beauty of the sunset and you can pick up fresh fruit and veg from the sellers on the side of the road.

Trains is still used to cross the famous Red River and you can walk all the way along with incredible views. Walking through the the bridge and take some pictures deserve to be another hanoi free things to do in your list.

5. Enjoy street performances in the Hanoi Pedestrian Street

Foreign visitors who hope to watch Vietnamese performances free can visit Hanoi Pedestrian Street atthe weekends and take part in the lively atmosphere in here.

Source: @janielewwho

There are many local musicians or groups of small people dance along. There're also many other activities such as traditional games, traditional music shows,... going on around here. I'm sure it'd be a fun night out for you.

Location: free space, Hoan Kiem Lake area.

Local Tips: Pay attention to pickpockets

6. Check Out Authentic Handicrafts in Hanoi’s Old Quarter for free

The vendors along Old Quarter are fascinating places for shopaholics or simply people trying cloths without purchasing. The narrow alleyways of Hanoi Old Quarter boasts a variety of shops selling authentic artefacts including paper lanterns, paintings, wood and stone carvings, silk, and paintings by local artists.

Note:

If you don’t intend to buy things, you can try these artefacts out.

You can see the daily lives of locals here with plenty of selling and purchasing activities. Watch out of pickpockets and thieves

Besides shops selling outfits, you can enjoy various local cuisines in here with a reasonable price.

7. Sensory overload at Quang Ba flower market

Variety of flowers species with fragances in Quang Ba Night Flower Market

Although the market is not on the main tourist trail, you can explore it with a variety of flowers, a heaven for flower fans.

This is where all of the flowers are brought before they’re taken to be sold around Hanoi. It’s a sensory overload of colors and smells with food hawkers selling local grub to keep you going

Location: open outdoor market Au Co, Nhat Tan, Tay Ho

Opening hours: The market opens from 2 am, running the whole way through the night.

8. Help students learning English around Hoan Kiem Lake

Communication with young locals to discover more about Vietnamese culture

If you are keen on communicating with others or sharing about cultures and lifestyles then you can talk to locals who desire to boost their English skills.

Local students will walk around looking for English speakers to practice conversations with. It’s a great way to meet the locals and get some insiders suggestions of what to do in Hanoi. This is one of the free and cheap things to do in Hanoi since you get to help the locals and discover about the people and culture through them.

Hanoi City is considered as a must come destination of the S-shaped country. 10 free things to do in Hanoi as mentioned are most popular activities. If you need further information, don’t hesitate to contact AZ Local Trip to have an unforgettable journey.

FREE and CHEAP Things to do in Hanoi - Attractions

Above are all the activities you can join with a low budget. And now, let's move on with the next Free and Cheap things to do in Hanoi - the Tourist Attractions.

1. Take a morning stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake with a completely free cost

The beautiful walking lake side

Hoan Kiem Lake is considered a pearl of the capital and a famous hangout spot throughout the day with locals and tourists. It is a magnificent place for you to recharge your battery after a stressful working day with a bunch of tasks and complicated issues as one of your Free cheap things to do in Hanoi list

In here, you can easily catch the sights of many elderly couples walking hand in hand, midnight joggers working up a sweat and children speeding round in their toy cars.

2. Ngoc Son Temple & The Huc Bridge

Ngoc Son Temple is a very unique temple which nestled in the centre on a small island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. The temple was built in commemoration of the 13th century military leader Tran Hung Dao who made a considerable contribution to the battle against the Yuan Dynasty.

To reach Ngoc Son Temple, you have to pass through a beautiful red bridge which is The Huc Bridge.

Stunning The Huc Bridge at night

The Huc Bridge is known as a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese design. In the sunlight, it's filled with the bright sunshine, forming a beautiful scenery in Hoan Kiem Lake.

Ngoc Son Temple and The Huc Bridge are 2 of the most popular places in Hoan Kiem Lake. You can't miss the opportunity visiting these places.

3. St.Joseph's Cathedral

St. Joseph's Cathedral resembles the Notre Dame de Paris

Saint Joseph Cathedralis the representative evidence of the French colonial architecture in Hanoi. It was built based on the design and architecture of the Notre Dame de Paris.

Familiarly called by the local as “The Big Church”, Saint Joseph Cathedral is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic of Hanoi. It 's free to go in the church and discover around. You can enter the church and admire the Neo-Gothic design of this church.

Location: 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours:

For Outside visit: all time.

For Inside visit: visitors can only enter the Cathedral in Hanoi in the opening time of ceremonial practice as the following schedule:

For visitors as well as local residents, a trip to Uncle Ho’s final resting place can be an extraordinary experience as it is not just a normal tourist attraction, it’s an itinerary of discovering a unique history.

You can follow the queue to observe Uncle Ho’s body preserved in a glass case at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The granite building stands for a great deal for many locals as it ensures that their beloved leader ‘lives on forever’.

The gardens outside have 250 species of flower gathered from all regions of Vietnam and many locals exercise on the long stretches of concrete.

Location: 2 Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday.

Entrance fee: free

Hot season (from 1st April to 31st October): from 7:30 AM to 10:30 A(Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Cold season (from November 1 to March 31 of the following year): from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

5. Explore Temples and Pagodas everywhere

Tran Quoc Pagoda - the most ancient and beautiful pagoda in Hanoi

Vietnam is a multi-religions with many religions such as Buddhism and Catholicism, so temples and pagodas are omnipresent, most of which don’t require entrance fee.

Free and cheap things to do in Hanoi here:

Normally, temples are relatively tranquil, but on occasional events including Tet, Mid-Autumn Festival and Buddha’s Birthday, the vibrant atmosphere here will surprise you.

You can observe the images of prayer ceremonies, traditional music and dance performances and fireworks display.

Simply, you just sit silently to keep your soul restful, getting out of your speedily pace of life.

Basic Information

Address: Some famous temples and pagodas in Hanoi: The Perfume Pagoda, Cau Dong Pagoda, Ngoc Son Temple and Bach Ma Temple.

Dress code: You should wear a suitable outfit when visiting worshipping areas.

We hope at the end of this post, you can now make up your own list of free & cheap things to do in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi.

Tran Duy Hưng 2018-11-28

Martin is a wonderful guide and he really made hiking up Table Mountain a great experience.
Not only did he take us up challenging (in a good way) path with breathtaking views,
but we also saw hardly any other tourists (I know we were tourists ourselves, but you get my idea),
which was really noticeable once we got to the top of the mountain, where you couldn't find one private spot to take a nice picture.
He is a fun and warm person to be around and you can yell that he enjoys his job and being outdoors.
Loved it and would do it all over again!!! Thank you Martin!!!

Martin is a wonderful guide and he really made hiking up Table Mountain a great experience.
Not only did he take us up challenging (in a good way) path with breathtaking views,
but we also saw hardly any other tourists (I know we were tourists ourselves, but you get my idea),
which was really noticeable once we got to the top of the mountain, where you couldn't find one private spot to take a nice picture.
He is a fun and warm person to be around and you can yell that he enjoys his job and being outdoors.
Loved it and would do it all over again!!! Thank you Martin!!!

Martin is a wonderful guide and he really made hiking up Table Mountain a great experience.
Not only did he take us up challenging (in a good way) path with breathtaking views,
but we also saw hardly any other tourists (I know we were tourists ourselves, but you get my idea),
which was really noticeable once we got to the top of the mountain, where you couldn't find one private spot to take a nice picture.
He is a fun and warm person to be around and you can yell that he enjoys his job and being outdoors.
Loved it and would do it all over again!!! Thank you Martin!!!

Martin is a wonderful guide and he really made hiking up Table Mountain a great experience.
Not only did he take us up challenging (in a good way) path with breathtaking views,
but we also saw hardly any other tourists (I know we were tourists ourselves, but you get my idea),
which was really noticeable once we got to the top of the mountain, where you couldn't find one private spot to take a nice picture.
He is a fun and warm person to be around and you can yell that he enjoys his job and being outdoors.
Loved it and would do it all over again!!! Thank you Martin!!!

Martin is a wonderful guide and he really made hiking up Table Mountain a great experience.
Not only did he take us up challenging (in a good way) path with breathtaking views,
but we also saw hardly any other tourists (I know we were tourists ourselves, but you get my idea),
which was really noticeable once we got to the top of the mountain, where you couldn't find one private spot to take a nice picture.
He is a fun and warm person to be around and you can yell that he enjoys his job and being outdoors.
Loved it and would do it all over again!!! Thank you Martin!!!

Martin is a wonderful guide and he really made hiking up Table Mountain a great experience.
Not only did he take us up challenging (in a good way) path with breathtaking views,
but we also saw hardly any other tourists (I know we were tourists ourselves, but you get my idea),
which was really noticeable once we got to the top of the mountain, where you couldn't find one private spot to take a nice picture.
He is a fun and warm person to be around and you can yell that he enjoys his job and being outdoors.
Loved it and would do it all over again!!! Thank you Martin!!!